Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1887-12-31
UTAH MATTERS.
Discussion sn the senate fn Referene 80
the Constitutional Convention mena-


orIal.
In the senate on the 2ist, the resolu.
ton of Mr.. Call TO print in the Con-
gressional Record the memorial Of the
constitutional convention of Utah was
called up for adoption, when quite a
lengthy discussion ensued.
Mr.. Edmunds preferred that the resolu-
ton be referred to the committee on
territories.
Mr.. Call argued that il was due to 8
community Of 200, GOO people 10 have thtir
views fairly presented. He understood
that less than S per cent of these people were
guilty of the D actices on the assumption
OF which the objection OF the senator from
Vermont was based. He would now read
the memorial, TO insure its publication in
the Rfeord, and TO show there was nothing
objectionable in it. He thereupon read
the memorial. aud aided that the senator
from Vermont knew there was nothing in
it disrespeetful to congress, and no reason,
in right or justice, why the senate should
refuse to hear The petition Of 40, 600
American citizens.
Mr.. EdmundS thanked. the senator from
Florida for his gratifying illusions TO him.
Hecertainly had not questioned the sim
cerity of the senator from Florida, for he
had stood behind this polygamist hierarchy
every time that he had any interest &c adj
vance, or any wholesome legislation to re-
sist He had done so with a great deal of
ability and considerable ZEAL He could
give The senator the praise of being absO-
lutely sincere in standing by this body of
persons through thick and thin, and
expected that the senator would continue
to do so; and if in time, Utah should
be come a state and the United States con-
stitution should change so that one person
might be senator from two states, he had
no doubt the senator from Florida would
be the first senator whom the Mormon
hierarchy would select. He tEdmundsl
could produce and ask to have printed in
the Record other statements showing the
utter hypocrisy and CANNON of the per-
formance, and that it was q mere trick 10
get out from under the hands of congress
and from under the laws of the United
States. Everybody understood that, and
he tEimuuds) did not propose Co vote for
spending money in order to print in the
Record that sort of thing.
Mr.. Call said the senator from Vermont
was not more sincere than correct in his
statement that he lCall) had stood behind
the Mormon hierarchy. He had stood he.
hind human rights when the senator, with
exquisite cruelty, sought to punish inn0-
cent women and children in Utah by legis-
luton which he (Calll regarded as uncon-
stitutional, unfeeling and unhuman.
The senator had never heard
him advocate corruption, and
the senator had never heard him advocate
corrupt judicial tribunals or packed juries,
or PROSTITUTION of courts of justice. He
tCalll had never expressed an opinion rs to
how he should vote on the admission of
Utah. That was n question for future
consideration. He understood b. state
ments of reliable citizens, republicans and
democrats, that not more than per cent
of the population of Utah favored
polygamy, and that the young people of
the territory were unanimously opposed to
it, and submitted conscientiously to the
legislation of congress. The objections of
the senator from Vermont were vain and
idle, and were unworthy of the
senator. They were not reasonable as o
natter of logic, and were not trus
as matter Of fact.
Mr.. Stewart was opposed to printing the
memorial in the Record as it might raise
false hopes in Utah, as being an expression
of opinion that its admission rs a state was
possible at the present. He feared very
much that Utah was not in condition to
become a state. She was governed by a
close corporation of the hierarchy. He did
not believe there was such thing as Fl e.
dom in Utah. Free schools, as understOo
elsewhere, did not exist there, and eyery-
thing was subservient to political organ
ization known as the Mormon church. 1t
was impossible for United States citizens
to live in any part of Utah outside of
towns where there was no military protec-
ton. The various modes which the Nor
mons had of Kidding themselves of Gentiles
were cruel, unheard of and unreasonable,
the details of which he would not relate at
present. He would re sorry to see
a vote given in the senate that
would favor the admission Of Utah
as state until more people were
ready prepared to establish a government
where citizens of all denominations might
reside in peace and be protected. He did
not want to see U ali admitted with weak
promise that she would abolish the organi-
cation which governed theibIormons with
rod of iron. and exclude other citizens
from living among them. He would think
il great calamity to have these people
put IN position where they could change
their constitution at will, and perpetuate
an organization hostile to liberty and
founded on the pretended religious HER
archy.
Mr.. Platt argued that there was no more
reason why the memorial of the self
constituted convention should be printed
in the Record than the memorial of any
citizen or any number of citizens
Mr.. Paddock denied that the memorial
represented the wishes of 200, 900 people.
The whole population of Utah was only
100000, of which about 140. 900 were Nor
mon. As to the statement that not more
than per cent of the Mormons were poIyga-
mists. he asserted that they were all polyg-
amists, so far as an endorsement of tine
doctrine was concerned and the belief that
it was divine revelation.
Mr.. Call said that the memorial having
been read by him, it would necessarily be
printed in the Record. but as he did not
desire to provoke any further contention in
the matter he withdrew his resolution.
Bushyhead Wants Revenge.
Vinita q. To- special: Ex-Chief d.
W. Bushyhead, who was fred bodily